DBS Checks for Pharmacy Professionals (Price inclusive of VAT )

DBS (the Disclosure and Barring Services) was formed as a replacement to both the Criminal records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). They help employers to make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children.

Pharmacists obtain their certificate and then register it with the DBS Annual Update Service at which they pay a fee of £13 annually. This allows the certificate to remain applicable and valid for a long period of time, assuming they do not change job roles.

Pre-Reg students

Most universities have now been carrying out enhanced checks for their students. However the validity of these checks ends, when the student enters “PAID work” i.e as a pre-registration student.

At which point, employers must apply for a new enhanced check for their students. If the pre-registration student then opts to stay with the employer, post qualification; the check remains valid, as long as they have registered the certificate with the DBS Annual Update Service within 14 days of receiving the certificate.

Employed Pharmacists

In community pharmacy, employers have a responsibility to have these checks performed for:

employed/locum pharmacists

registered pharmacy technicians.

It does NOT apply to healthcare delivered by a person who is not a registrant but who acts under the

direction or supervision of a registered professional, such as Medicines Counter Assistants or

Once we have received your documents, we will send you an email with the link to start your application. The email will appear in your inbox (please check junk mail) sent from “Verifile” titled“Verifile Background Checks”.

- link will be sent within 12 hours

Step 6:

Follow the steps on the link and submit the application.

TheApplicant formandUpload Documents sectionsneed to be completed.

Once the application is submitted My Locum Choice will be kept up to date with its progress.

**You have 28 days to complete the application form. After this period the form will be withdrawn by DBS and is non-refundable**.

Step 7:

Once clear, we will receive an e-copy of the certificate and the original will be sent to you to your home address.

Step 8:

Register your certificate with the DBS update service at a cost of £13 annually:

**This must be registered within 19 days of receiving the certiﬁcate**

**On the rare occasion you do not receive your original in the post within 14 days please contact us and we will give you a reference number to contact DBS directly**

DBS update service.

This service is provided annually and can be of beneﬁt to all healthcare professionals. By registering with the service, it keeps your certiﬁcate valid and ensures employers that your certiﬁcate is current and up to date.

FAQs

Q: Why do I need to get my documents verified?

A: Under strict new regulations by DBS, they must ensure that documents are not only identity checked but the individual is also checked against the documents provided. Any breach of this is considered fraudulent activity and could, in turn, make your check invalid if not followed.

Q: Why do I need to send documents, other DBS providers state I don't need to do this?

A: Unfortunately if you do not get your documents countersigned your check will not be valid and legal with DBS standings. Any providers who state this does not need to be completed are not legally compliant with DBS and applicants as well as the organisation will be subject to prosecution.

Q: Do My Locum Choice perform standard or Enhanced criminal checks?

A: All checks carried out are Enhanced checks, it is a requirement for healthcare professionals to have this.

Q: How do I pay for my check?

A: Check out with the DBS service product.

Q: How long does my certificate take?

A: DBS state it can take up to 6 weeks to receive your certificate, however, the majority of certificates return within 2 weeks.

Typically the longest part of the process is the police records search; depending on how quick their departments are in your area will reflect the length of time it takes for your certificate to come back

Q: Can I upload photos of my documents onto the Onfido DBS platform or must they be scanned?

A: If you do not register with the annual update service within 19 days of receiving your certificate; your certificate is considered as invalid because employers cannot be sure of any issues that may have occurred or changes in job role within that time frame. The annual update service allows your certificate to remain valid, current and up to date.

Q: I have received my electronic certificate copy but not my original yet?

A: Please contact DBS directly if you have not received your original certificate in the post within 14 days. The original is needed as the copy cannot be presented as a genuine certificate.

Q: What is an unspent conviction?

A: If you have ever been convicted of an offence for which a sentence of more than 2 and a half years was imposed (regardless of the amount of time you actually spent in prison) this conviction can never become ‘spent': it is an ‘unspent‘ conviction which you must disclose when asked about your criminal convictions

Q: I started my application but some time has passed and I now want to complete it, can I do so?

A: You can access your application at any point within 6 months of the application link being sent to you. Unfortunately, if you do not access your check within this time frame it will be withdrawn by our DBS supplier and you will need to purchase the check once again.

My Locum Choice regularly maintains a robust and legal process with regards to all activities including DBS. This often includes regular relations with DBS and DBS provider services. They have now informed that although our online identity checking system and criminal checking system is very robust and advanced; DBS must be able to verify a persons identity physically. This can only be achieved through facial recognition against documents in person to a verified counter-signatory and verification professional. We highly recommend using the Postal Office service for this. They will not only verify your documents but also provide you with a signed verification form acting as proof of this process being complied with. If for any reason the DBS verification process is not followed, we are legally inclined to withdraw the application and report any necessary findings to DBS.